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Rossman faculty have been taking extra steps to learn about executive functioning throughout this school year. We began our year learning from an outside professional, who is a licensed professional counselor, about different areas of executive functioning. Recently, many teachers stayed after school to view a webinar from Dr. Peg Dawson, who is one of the authors of Smart but Scattered. As the learning consultant for Rossman, and in my other professional role as a trained school psychologist who conducts...Read more

As a young educator, I had the privilege of spending time in Cape Town, South Africa. I was there not long after apartheid ended and a new democracy was developing. Along with this new democracy came many changes in education, especially for people of color as adequate education had been denied them for many years. Many injustices, due to a corrupt government and a racially segregated population, prevented an entire generation from reaching their substantial potential. People were forced to live in township squalor, and education was minimal at best. While there, I worked with teachers...Read more

One of the most gratifying experiences over my seven years at Rossman has been greeting students at the front door of the school each morning. It is a perfect place to be situated to recognize the children’s differing characteristics and idiosyncratic behaviors as they start the school day.

The way they look, act and speak are distinctive and age appropriate due to their gender and personality. My brief morning greeting and the opportunity to hear a snapshot of their sports team, music recital or a family activity connects me to them and fulfills my goal to show Rossman cares about...Read more

Do you have a child who loves to take risks, who embraces change, who is a “social butterfly?” Or does your child tend to be more reserved, slow to warm to new experiences, and prefer independent or one-on-one play? These are the distinguishing hallmarks between extroverts and introverts. It is estimated that introverts make up 30-50% of our population, but so often introverts feel out of place in a society that seems to value extroversion, particularly in educational environments. First identified by Carl Jung, the concepts of introversion and extroversion have become increasingly...Read more

Reading fluency is the ability to read a text at a steady rate, with expression and accuracy. Fluency has a direct correlation to reading comprehension, and can often be an indicator of your child’s understanding of a text. A common misconception associated with the term “fluency” is that a fluent reader is a quick reader. Children who read too quickly often insert or omit keywords, are unable to recall important details and read through punctuation.

Not all kids are voracious readers, but those who aren't can be convinced it is a worthwhile experience. You may have two or more children in the same family with different attitudes toward reading. I did! One read in the bathtub, at recess and walking the dog (all bad ideas). Every spare minute of her day was filled with reading. My other child was more hands-on with learning and worked well on projects and building. Very different! Parents often have to adjust and adapt and make reading fun!

For parents with kids in the Upper School, this is a message about homework to get you through the rest of the year. For parents with kids in the Lower School, here are some ways to conceptualize homework time with your family in the future to start good habits early.

The first approach to conducting homework time is to make homework time a part of your evening routine, which is how Dr. Peg Dawson recommends you approach it. Dr. Dawson is one of the co-authors of Smart but Scattered, which is a book I often recommend to parents of children struggling with Attention-Deficit/...Read more

Intensely passionate about learning, Rossman teachers are constantly seeking to grow as both educators and parents. If you're looking for a book to dive into this summer, check out this list of teacher-recommended parenting books.

Rossman strives to provide a traditional education with innovation. Woven throughout the school’s program are innovative projects such as the sixth grade symbolizing heroes through ceramic art pieces, the third grade building rotational symmetry with LEGOs in art, and the fifth grade experimenting in science with motorized Scribble Bot machines to name a few. Innovation occurs when teachers communicate and inspire each other with new ideas.

Summer is the perfect time to continue innovative projects for children. Passions can be captured, and there is time to “play”, create,...Read more

This has been a busy year in the Rossman Library! We’ve had visiting authors, pirates, coding, research, and tons of reading going on. All families have barcodes and book check out is recommended. Parents frequently ask for book suggestions for their children when visiting the library, and I am more than happy to help. In addition to personal recommendations there are many good websites reviewing children’s books.

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